Town Manager John Carroll Retires

John Carroll has had a long and distinguished career, from his first job for the town of Lexington as a civil engineer, followed by Public Works Director (1958-1967), Editor of New England Construction Magazine (1967-1971), Executive Director of the Construction Industries of Massachusetts (1971-1974), Massachusetts Commissioner of the Public Works under Governor Michael Dukakis (1974 -1978), to his 39-year tenure as Norwood’s General Manager.
In addition to his paid employment, Carroll has served as Vice Chair of the Metropolitan Water Resource Authority (MWRA) since its inception 32 years ago.
For his entire adult life, this son of Irish immigrants has been an exceptional public servant. Some of his many accomplishments have been acknowledged. In 2001, he was awarded a prestigious National Environmental Achievement Award by the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies for his “successful leadership at the MWRA,” which included his contributions to the Boston Harbor Project, hailed by the Environmental Protection Agency as “one of America’s greatest environmental success stories.” Today, the wastewater treatment facility that came out of that project bears his name – the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant.
In 2012, the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce named him Business Person of the Year saying, “…he is responsible for Norwood’s reputation as a business-friendly community. He understands the importance of a vibrant business community to provide a commercial tax base that relieves the burden on homeowners. More importantly and less known is the work he does behind the scenes to help those in need in town, often by connecting them to local businesses that can provide needed goods and services during a crisis.”
When asked what his proudest achievement as Town Manager was, Carroll thought for a while.
“I can’t say just one thing," Carroll said. "There were so many. Getting water and sewer charges billed on a monthly basis; the new DPW complex; the police and fire department consolidation; and getting mechanized rubbish collection for the town. I’ve always done my best to help make Norwood the best town it could be.”
He thought a bit longer.
“To be honest, I guess I’d have to say the Gazebo is my proudest accomplishment," Carroll proudly proclaimed. "It might sound silly, but I consider it central to the fabric of Norwood.”
He recounted all the activities that are held at the gazebo, including summer and winter concerts and pops night.
“I also liked playing a small role in getting the beautiful new high school built,” Carroll said. “I am so proud to have been part of that committee.”
Further into the interview, Carroll recounted many of the issues that had to be resolved before most of these projects could move forward.
“Most people don’t know how much effort goes on behind the scenes,” Carroll said. "Suffice to say many phone calls were made, questions asked and answered, support developed, funding found, and minds changed. For John Carroll, it was all in a day’s work.
Does one project stand out as more difficult than the rest? Carroll feels that what he believes made his job relatively easy was the fact that he was honest and treated everyone the same.
“I enjoyed it all,” he said.
At his send-off party at the Four Points Sheraton, Carroll gave a personal and professional account of his life that showcased his humor and his humility. From growing up in Hyde Park, to getting his degree in Civil Engineering at Northeastern in 1950, to his stint in the Army in the late ‘50s where he spent his last six months in Okinawa building two carnivals.
“That was tough duty,” he quipped.
He spoke lovingly of his first wife Marilyn who died of breast cancer in 1976, of how they met and how their family came about (they had two children and adopted four more), and of her dying wish in 1976 that a recent friend, Penni Martin, be asked to sing Amazing Grace at her funeral mass.
His sense of humor shined as he told how he believed this repeated request was a message from Marilyn and something special happened four months later,.
“I proposed to Penni, over the telephone, with never having had a date, knowing she had eight kids and never having met any of them," Carroll said. "She accepted, never having met my six kids and we were married one year later.”
While married to Penni, the Carroll’s adopted four more children for a total complement of 18. They will celebrate 40 years of marriage next year.
Carroll told of how he came to be Norwood’s Town Manager. At the time he was Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Works.
“Thursday, after Mike Dukakis was defeated by Ed King, I knew I was a goner,” Carroll said. “What was I to do? I had 14 kids and lived paycheck to paycheck.”
He learned through a friend that the Norwood job was open and sent his resume. Shortly after, he received a call from selectman Walter Dempsey who asked ‘Do you want this job?’ “I answered yes,” Carroll recounted, “and he said ‘You got it!’” That was 39 years ago.
He has often been asked why he did not retire earlier in his career.
“I finally figured out a couple of years ago why I didn’t retire,” he said. “I enjoy being relevant; being a part of the action that produced the results I mentioned earlier. I really enjoy coming to work every day.”
He quoted a baseball player who said to be a really good ball player, you gotta love the grind.
“I love the grind,” Carroll said. “I always have. And I’ll miss it.”
Throughout our interview, Carroll repeated that he loved helping people. Many stories have been told about the work he has done behind the scenes to help those in need in town, often by connecting them to local businesses that can provide needed goods and services. There are too many to recount here; however, here is an example of how he lives his faith.
After church services on Sunday, Carroll crosses the street to the local Dunkin’ Donuts and passes out gift certificates for food to the homeless. He started doing this years ago and now finds a line of hopeful recipients waiting for him each Sunday. Asked if he has a philosophy of life, Carroll said, “No, I just do what Jesus tells me to do … love everyone and treat them fairly.”
John Carroll’s legacy in Norwood is large. His achievements are many and won’t be soon forgotten. But his story will not end here at 89 years old, because Carroll plans to continue to help people in some way.
“I’m not sure how,” he said; “but that’s my objective.”
The Town of Norwood salutes our retiring town manager, thanks him for his many contributions, both personally and professionally, and wishes him God’s speed in his journey to help his fellow man.
Donna Lane is a Norwood-based writer, lecturer and designer. You can reach her at addictedgardener@verizon.net.